Puglia, forming the heel of Italy's boot, has stayed quieter than Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast despite equally compelling scenery, whitewashed towns, olive groves stretching to the horizon, and the extraordinary trulli of Alberobello, conical limestone houses found nowhere else in the world in this concentration.
Alberobello's Trulli
Alberobello's trulli, over a thousand whitewashed conical-roofed stone houses, form a UNESCO World Heritage site whose origins may lie in a tax-avoidance scheme, the roofs, built without mortar, could reportedly be collapsed quickly to avoid tax inspectors counting permanent dwellings, though historians debate the full story.
Many trulli in the Rione Monti district have been converted into shops and cafes, while the Rione Aia Piccola side retains a quieter, still-residential character, visit both to see the range between tourist-facing and lived-in trulli.
Whitewashed Towns and Coast
Ostuni, known as the 'White City,' is a hilltop town of whitewashed buildings visible for miles across the surrounding olive groves, wander the maze of narrow lanes climbing to the cathedral at the summit, best done in late afternoon when the white walls catch the golden light.
The Salento peninsula, Puglia's southernmost stretch, has some of Italy's clearest water and least-developed beaches, particularly around Porto Cesareo and the Adriatic side near Otranto, a genuine alternative to the more crowded coastlines further north in Italy.
Recommended Stay · Puglia · Savelletri
Borgo Egnazia
A resort built to resemble a traditional Puglian village, with its own golf course, spa, and direct access to the Adriatic coastline.
